In lesser hands, "Million Dollar Arm" could easily have crossed into another one of those fact-based "white savior" dramas where the white protagonist saves minority members from lesser lives by giving them opportunities, education and protection and, in effect, taking credit for their accomplishments.

"Million Dollar Arm," written by Tom McCarthy, is too smart for that.

It barely focuses on its sketchy minority characters -- two young men from India intensely trained to become fastball pitchers for major league baseball.

Like Cameron's Crowe's far riskier "Jerry Maguire," McCarthy's story prefers to profile its flawed, underdog main character, another white, single sports agent who opts to go independent, then treads deep financial waters while gambling everything on his only (here, two) clients.

"Mad Men" star Jon Hamm portrays JB Bernstein, a self-centered, all-business agent who doesn't let women or other distractions slow down his deals. After a run of bad luck, his company might fold if he and his partner Aash (Aasif Mandvi) don't snare a new super client soon.

One night while watching television, JB experiences an epiphany by flipping between Susan Boyle's life-changing audition on "Britain's Got Talent" and a cricket match.

If JB can find some super baseball players from India, that would open the American sport to a market worth a billion customers.

With backing from a sourpuss Asian capitalist named Mr. Chang (Tzi Ma), JB heads to India where he meets up with a comically appreciative guide and translator Amit (Bollywood actor Pitobash) and a comically crusty old American talent scout named Ray (Alan Arkin).

Back in the States, legendary USC coach Tom House (played with grounded gravitas by Bill Paxton) trains the lads to be super pitchers, but the clock proves to be an enemy as Rinku and Dinesh can't seem to rally.

The problem, as laid out by Brenda (Lake Bell), the pretty doctor-in-training next door, is that JB isn't being nice or supportive to his players after ripping them away from their homes, friends and families. He doesn't get it.

At about this time, most underdog sports dramas would lapse into a rendition of "You Gotta Have Heart" from "Damn Yankees."

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the X in the upper right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.